MLB Player News

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip) did not return to the starting lineup Thursday against the Brewers. Tucker Barnhart started at catcher for the Reds.

Mesoraco has not started since April 11. He did make a pinch-hit appearance Tuesday.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg chose to rest four of his starters for Thursday's day game against the Marlins.

First baseman Ryan Howard, second baseman Chase Utley, shortstop Freddy Galvis and catcher Carlos Ruiz were all held out of the starting lineup. Darin Ruf started at first base, Cesar Hernandez started at second base, Andres Blanco started at shortstop and Cameron Rupp started at catcher.

Ruiz (.184), Howard (.196) and Utley (.120) are all batting below the Mendoza Line (.200). Galvis is batting .300 (15 for 50) with one double, one triple, one home run and eight RBI through 14 games.

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis is in the starting lineup and batting eighth Wednesday against the Giants, pushing Yasmani Grandal to the bench.

Ellis will make just his fifth start of the year and is hitting .143 with a double in 14 at-bats this season. 

The Marlins will continue to use Jacob Realmuto at catcher Wednesday against the Phillies, his third straight start behind the plate.

Realmuto continues to start over Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who is just 2 for 25 with a home run to start the season. Realmuto is hitting .278 with two doubles and two RBI in 18 at-bats this season. The Marlins are currently the underdogs (+123) against Philadelphia.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco was held out of the starting lineup Tuesday night against Milwaukee, per the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Mesoraco has been out of the starting lineup since April 12 because of a left hip impingement, but made a pinch-hit appearance on Tuesday against Milwaukee. He told reporters on Tuesday that his playing status moving forward would be up to the team's medical staff.

"Hitting's not like riding a bike, but it's not like you have to re-learn how to swing a bat," Reds manager Bryan Price said to MLB.com. "It's timing more than anything, and it's impossible to simulate what it's like to face Major League pitching when you're not playing. I was impressed by the at-bat for sure. He was on time, and I'm sure he'd love to be in there.

Brayan Pena will bat seventh in his place on Wednesday.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco told reporters that his playing status moving forward will be up to the team's medical staff, per MLB.com. Mesoraco has been out of the starting lineup since April 12 because of a left hip impingement, but made a pinch-hit appearance on Tuesday against Milwaukee.

"I'm just going off what the trainers and the doctors tell me to do," Mesoraco said. "That's not my expertise. I'm worried about hitting the ball, my swing and things like that. I just kind of follow the protocol.

"You want to get back in there, which is human nature. For me, being a competitor, I want to be in there as much as I possibly can. But, those guys have a job to do and they do a good job, so I trust them."

Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki made his career debut in Tuesday's win over Atlanta. 

Plawecki singled in his second career at bat and finished the day 2 for 4. Plawecki also scored twice in the 7-1 win. 

''Just happy to have the first one out of the way,'' he said. ''Just happy it came out the way it did.''

Catcher Kevin Plawecki joined the Mets sooner than expected, but the 2012 first-round draft pick is ready to contribute.

Travis d'Arnaud went on the disabled list with a fractured finger, and the call went out to Plawecki.

"Given Travis' injury, it's not an ideal situation, not the way I really expected to come up," Plawecki said, per NJ.com. "But I'm here, I'm happy to be here, and I'm happy to be part of this team."

Manager Terry Collins told Plawecki not to put too much pressure on himself for his debut.

"I talked to him earlier, and I told him the one thing is there's a lot on his plate today, and the main thing is just to be himself," Collins said. "Just go out there and have some fun. We'll help him get through certain situations .. because there's an awful lot to learn in your first day."

Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado was in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Reds. It was his third start and first since the Brewers placed Jonathan Lucroy on the disabled list due to a broken big toe on his left foot.

Maldonado will likely see the bulk of playing time at catcher with Lucroy sidelined. He entered play Tuesday hitless in nine at-bats.

It was anticipated that Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip) would be back in the lineup Tuesday in Milwaukee, but he remains out. Mesoraco is not only dealing with the ailment, but had been away from the team on personal business.

Injuries have prevented Mesoraco from playing much this season. And when he has played he hasn't hit - he has just two hits in 21 at-bats.